Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
By the time this blog posts it will either have been a month or roughly a month and a half since our first (and hopefully) last student death on campus this academic year at Wake Forest University. With a student population (undergrad, graduate and the professional schools) of under 10,000 students we do not experience... Continue Reading →
When we consider the experiences of our on-campus students, our focus revolves around fostering community, facilitating connections, and aiding in transitions. But do we specifically consider the issue of loneliness? In this episode of ResEdChat, join Crystal and Dr. Carl Dindo, Director of NAU’s Counseling Center, as they explore the concept of loneliness. Carl offers practical tips and abundant resources on how to cultivate a culture of connection for both our students and ourselves.
“Professor, what’s your favorite song on the album?” The question was from one of my students in our student leadership seminar, a course designed for incoming resident assistants, peer mentors, and orientation leaders. They were talking about ‘Cowboy Carter,’ the 27-track musical journey by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter that’s got everyone donning cowboy hats, slipping into boots, ... Continue Reading →
Housing professionals are well accustomed to the process of handling a crisis. When your work involves maintaining the everyday homeostasis and safety of an unpredictable community, your ability to maintain calm and handle a situation can become almost uncanny. In our roles, we encounter a variety of urgent issues, from the most ridiculous of situations... Continue Reading →
Guest Post by John Lantz, Residence Life Professional So you are a new Hall Director and are just starting the job, so now what? Being a Hall Director is a thrill but also can come with a lot of stress if you let it consume you. With over 11 years of experience in the world... Continue Reading →
Guest Post by Alex Baker, Student Affairs Professional In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, creating inclusive environments is not just a moral imperative but also a modern necessity. Inclusivity is not just a concept for policymakers and senior leadership; it's a practice that can and should be implemented at every level. This article aims... Continue Reading →
What does the future of AI-based technology hold? We're doing a little experiment, specifically with the AI chat-bot, ChatGPT. This post is part of a series where we ask ChatGPT interesting, unusual, or just plain fun questions related to residence life and college student housing. All answers were generated by the AI. At the end... Continue Reading →
The transition from the bustling independence of college life and a new place to lay one’s head in the residence halls to the familiar comfort of "home-home" can be a bittersweet experience for college students. While the prospect of reuniting with loved ones and reconnecting with childhood roots holds immense appeal and nostalgia for some,... Continue Reading →
As we enter fall and winter break season and many of our students may soon depart their residence halls and apartments to travel back to spend time with beloved family, friends, and pets, I wanted to dig a little deeper into the concept of “home” and what that means, both from a physical and philosophical... Continue Reading →
How are you thinking about your impact on your university's environment? What about your university's environment and its impact on your students? As Residence Life professionals, we often focus solely on the environments that we actively create in our own buildings. However, the campus environment is a complex and nuanced factor in a college student's... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, guest host Stewart Robinette chats with two professionals who are currently working outside the United States at NYU Shanghai. They discuss how their careers took them there, what the differences are when operating a residence life program outside the United States, and the learning, experiences, and skills they gained along the way.
This week, Dustin chats with current Roompact blogger Jennifer about her experience as a higher ed graduate student balancing working on campus and her studies. She shares reflections on her journey so far, what she is looking forward to, and some advice on how best to support grad students.
A special guest post from Rose Waples, Ed.D. Based on her dissertation, "A Program Evaluation of Crisis and Conflict Management Training for Resident Advisors at the University of Rochester." Available upon request. Previously on the blog, Natasha Monteith posted an article entitled Should We Even Be Doing Behind Closed Doors? This engaging post brought up... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, it's just the host! Paul Brown walks you through how to cultivate a "curricular mindset" in your residence life work. As many of you may be heading to the Institute on the Curricular Approach this month, this episode can be a good primer!
Paul comes back to the podcast again this week to chat with Dustin about the the past, present, and future of the curricular approach in residential education. Paul brings his wealth of knowledge and experience in this area to the conversation to help capture why this practice is so important for supporting student learning.
The fall semester is a time of great change and excitement for all of us higher education professionals. New students are arriving, new classes are starting, and there is a renewed sense of purpose and energy. However, the fall semester can also be a time of great stress and anxiety. Long hours, heavy workloads, and... Continue Reading →
We signed up to work with students. At least, the majority of us did. Why, then, are we haunted by the lurking voicemails of parents? Many of them are miles away from our buildings. Some are as close as a hop onto the highway. All of them just want the best for their child. Well,... Continue Reading →
This week, we're teasing the upcoming Institute on the Curricular Approach (ICA) happening October 22-25 in Long Beach, CA. Dustin chats with co-chairs Ardell and Alex about how they got involved in ICA and what they're excited about for this year's institute. Register now to make sure you don't miss out on this amazing event!
